Ribbon rack



L. JOHNSON Aug. 32, 1941.

RIBBON RACK Filed June 24, 1957 Lane [0/2/1500 S W Gum/M011 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 ES Be ar that 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a ribbon rack.

An object of the invention is to provide a ribbon rack or holder on which a ribbon for a typewriter, or other typing machine may be mounted, the rack and ribbon and ribbon feeding, or moving, mechanism forming an independent unit which may be bodily applied to and removed from a typewriter or other similar typing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary assembly comprising a holder and means thereon for mounting and feeding the ribbon and which is adapted for ready application to any type of typewriter or similar typing machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described having a ribbon feeding or moving device thereon arranged to be operatively connected with the mechanism of the typewriter, or typing machine, and driven thereby.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a plan View of a form of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a front elevation thereof as applied to a typing machine, said typing machine being shown, in part, in dotted lines.

Figure 3 shows an end view of a ribbon guide employed.

Figure 4 shows a front, elevational view of a form of ribbon feeding device employed.

Figure 5 shows a front, elevational view of another form of ribbon feeding device.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of one form of ribbon spool which may be used with the device, and

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary, perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates the main frame which preferably consists of an elongated front strip of metal, or other suitable material and whose ends la, la are retracted rearwardly and preferably formed arcuate. the main frame and diverging rearwardly across the curved ends thereof are the supporting plates 2, 2a. In the form illustrated there is an upstanding, circular ferrule 3 on the supporting plate 2 to receive the spool of ribbon l.

Formed integrally with The supporting plate 2a has a circular opening 5 therethrough.

In the form of ribbon feeding, or moving mechanism, disclosed in Figure 4, there is a driving clutch member 6 fitted through the opening 5 having a transverse slot '5 across the lower end thereof and on the upper end of the shaft 1a of the typewriter there is a clutch member lb having a driving tenon lc which projects into the slot 7 whereby the member 5 is driven from the shaft la. Secured on the clutch member 5 there is a large spur gear 8 which is in mesh with a smaller spur gear 9 which is fixed on the lower end of the shaft it]. This shaft works in a suitable working bearing in the supporting plate 2a and fixed on its upper end there is a friction disc ll. Cooperating with this disc there is a roller it which is mounted on the upper end of the pin l3, said pin being secured to, and upstanding from, the plate 2a. The free portion of the ribbon is gripped between the friction disc H and the roller l2 and as said disc H is rotated the ribbon will be fed, or moved, during the normal operation of the typewriter or typing machine it shown, in part, in dotted lines, in Figure 2.

In the form shown in Figure 5, the clutch member ta, fitted through the opening 5 has a large friction disc I5 fixed on the upper end thereof which cooperates with the roller l2 and in this form the ribbon is similarly gripped between said disc l5 and the roller and is fed or moved by the friction disc l5 as it turns.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 there are the rearwardly converging, flat spring arms it, preferably formed of spring steel or other selected material and whose forward ends are secured to the frame I, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the rear ends are downwardly turned and formed with the ribbon guides I1, I! through which the ribbon is threaded as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The free ends of these spring arms [6 rest on the vertically movable ribbon vibrator with which the conventional .typing machine, or typewriter, is equipped.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 there are the rearwardly converging arms I9, l9 whose forward ends are secured, in any suitable manner to the frame l. These arms may be shaped as shown in Figure 7 and their rear ends are formed with the upstanding posts 2!], 20. In this form there is a yoke 2! having the end bearings 22, 22 which slide vertically, and freely, on the posts 20. The yoke has the notch 23 to expose the ribbon to the type and on opposite sides of this notch there are the narrow slits 24, 26 through which the ribbon passes.

There are the light coil springs 25, 25 surrounding the respective posts whose lower ends rest against the bearings 22 and whose upper ends abut the adjusting nuts 26, 26 threaded onto the upper ends of said posts. In this form, the yoke 21 rests on the ribbon vibrator 8. The springs 25 yield to permit the upward movement of the yoke and upon downward movement of the vibrator return the yoke to its lower position with the vibrator.

As hereinbefore stated the assembly may be applied, as a unit, to the typing machine. When applied a rotatable part of the machine will clutch with the clutch 6, or 6a, and turn the same as the keys are operated so as to feed the ribbon. This clutch 6, or Get, may be made of any suitable design to engage with the ribbon driving mechanism of the particular machine to which the unit is to be applied.

In performing various kinds of typing work it becomes desirable to change the ribbon of the machine. The ribbon rack, or unit hereinabove described, has been provided so that the ribbon can be easily and quickly changed and one type of ribbon readily substituted for another.

It is, of course, to be understood that various mechanical changes may be made so as to adapt the unit to machines of different types and contours without departing from the principle of the invention and the drawing and description diuclose merely one form of the invention by way of illustration, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A portable holder for a typewriter ribbon comprising a frame to be applied to a typewriter having a ribbon vibrator, ribbon holding and automatically operable ribbon advancing means disposed in approximately horizontal relation and mounted on the frame, ribbon guiding means through which the ribbon moves in an approximately horizontal direction, said guiding means being associated with, and vertically movable independently of and relative to the frame and positioned and shaped to be engaged with and elevated by the vibrator of the typewriter upon upward movement thereof.

2. A holder for a typewriter ribbon, comprising a frame shaped to be mounted on a typewriter having a vertically movable vibrator, ribbon holding means on the frame, ribbon guiding means associated with, and vertically movable relative to, the frame and positioned and shaped to be engaged with and elevated by the vibrator upon its upward movement, means mounted on the frame and formed to be detachably connected with and to be driven by a movable part of the typewriter mechanism and by means of which the ribbon may be automatically advanced.

3. The combination of a typewriter having a vibrator, with a ribbon supporting means comprising a frame, means for detachably engaging the frame with the typewriter, ribbon storage means on the frame, and guide means, for a ribbon from said storage means, connected to the frame and operatively engaged with the vibrator to move therewith.

4. In a typing apparatus including a typewriter having a vibrator; the combination with said typewriter of a detachable ribbon supporting means comprising a frame formed to detachably engage with the typewriter, ribbon storage means on the frame, ribbon guide means connected to the frame and operatively engaged with the vibrator to move therewith, and ribbon advancing means on the frame.

5. In a typing apparatus including a typewriter having means for engaging and rotating a ribbon spool; the combination with said typewriter of a detachable ribbon supporting means comprising a frame, ribbon storage means on the frame, ribbon guide means connected to the frame, ribbon advancing means on the frame, and means operatively connecting the ribbon advancing means with the ribbon spool rotating means of the typewriter.

6. In a typing apparatus including a typewriter having a movable carriage, a body on which the carriage is mounted, and a ribbon vibrator; the combination with said typewriter of a detachable ribbon supporting means comprising a frame positioned on the typewriter body, a typewriter ribbon, means for storing the ribbon on the frame, a ribbon guiding means attached to the frame including flexible arms and guides on the ends of the arms, said guides being operatively engaged with the vibrator to move therewith, the ribbon being threaded through the guides, means operatively connected to the typewriter and mounted on the frame for advancing the ribbon through said guides, said frame being adapted to be bodily moved, with its appendants, from the typewriter.

'7. The combination of a typewriter having a vibrator, with a detachable ribbon supporting means comprising a frame mounted on the typewriter, a ribbon, means for storing the ribbon on the frame, a ribbon guiding means attached to the frame including flexible arms with guides on the ends of the arms, said guides being operatively engaged with the vibrator to move therewith, the ribbon being threaded through the guides, means operatively connected to the typewriter and mounted on the frame for advancing the ribbon through said guides.

LANE JOHNSON. 

